Different Types of Online Dating Sites

With such a demand for online dating sites, the industry has grown rapidly.  While you’re shopping around to find the site that’s best for you, keep in mind there are different types of online dating sites available.


General Dating

General online dating sites currently occupy the biggest piece of the online dating site pie.  Sites like LavaLife, FriendFinder, Match.com, and Yahoo! Personals allow you full access to browse their member databases as soon as you sign up. 

These are not match-making services; they’re dating directories which allow you to search by specific criteria and find the people who you think are most suitable for you.

Visit General Dating


Relationship Services

Relationship services, by contrast, are match-making services.  Sites like eHarmony or Chemistry are for people more serious about finding someone, and willing to hand over control to and trust in the expertise of the service. 

These sites require you to fill out an in-depth personality profile from which they calculate your compatibility with others.  They send you your most compatible matches from which you can select your favourites.  Casual daters need not apply!

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Niche Dating

Niche sites connect people who share specific beliefs, passions, or lifestyles.  If you want to connect with someone of a particular ethnicity, religion, age, a niche site narrows the scope tremendously for you. 

The possibilities for niche online dating are nearly endless and range from single parents, vegetarians, and seniors, to geeks (no photos allowed), trekies, plus size, and singles with STDs—definitely something for everyone.

Visit Ethnic Dating; LGBT Dating; Religious Dating; Senior Dating; Military Dating; Single Parent Dating; Wealth & Beauty Dating; Specialty Dating.

Adult Dating

Adult online dating sites aren’t even much about… dating.  Geared specifically toward singles interested in intimate or sexual encounters, these sites are more about exploring relationship fantasies than serious relationships.  As these sites usually have a larger percentage of men than women, oftentimes, women are able to join for free.